And just like that, we are four episodes into RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 6 and Jan has stolen the show. This episode had an amazing new challenge, Rudemption for an always safe queen and an elimination fans did not expect.
Last week the dolls said goodbye to Silky Nutmeg Ganache. When they read the lipsticks chosen for elimination, six of them were for Silky and four were for A’keria. That is one of the closest races we have seen in this format. Miss A’keria narrowly escaped elimination. This week she has much to prove in the super fun Halftime Show lip-sync challenge!
The queens are asked to pick a Super Bowl halftime show performer to emulate and lip-sync to RuPaul songs in the style of that iconic musician. It’s very wild and most of the performances end up being pretty bland but a couple of the dolls turn it out.
Ginger Minj chose Fergie and this performance rightfully lands her in the bottom three. Fergie is a tough choice because she doesn’t have any signature moves, but if anyone can make this funny one would think it would be Ginger. When the cast was first announced, it seemed like The Minj would clean house but so far she has been in the bottom twice and never in the top. As Fergie says, Big Girls Don't Cry and we have a feeling Ginger is not going to worry about this setback for long.
Pandora Boxx picks Carol Channing, the first-ever halftime show performer. Carol Channing is an icon, but there is not much physically to show off here, and similarly to Ginger, Pandora is really floundering this season. Neither of them are doing particularly good nor bad, but for All Stars we expect to see better looks, better make-up, and amped-up performances. She needs to step it up or fans are going to unsubscribe from Pandora.
A’keria Davenport chose Prince, which is a fun risk. This queen is having the opposite return from Pandora and Ginger. She is taking big risks, but they are not paying off. Playing a very famous male celebrity with iconic moves is smart, but for the second week in a row she seems under-energized on stage. Her runway look is a gag and a half though.
Scarlet Envy does Katy Perry. There are no fireworks. It’s fine. Same with Ra’Jah O’Hara as Diana Ross. It’s nothing exciting. Eureka O’Hara portrays Madonna and the judges lose their minds for it to which we ask… girl, where? She paints a gap-tooth on but other than that she’s just standing on a platform doing almost nothing. Yara Sofia portrays Shakira and her make-up, costume and physical moves are dead on. The judges read her for giving too little in the face which is fair, but at least her performance was memorable.
When Jan appears it is a breath of fresh air. We sat through several queens doing the bare minimum lip-syncing to the songs and Jan does drag! She amps up Lady Gaga and adds some camp to the performance. She’s not just being Gaga she is giving gaga over the top extravaganza. It’s a slay. Speaking of slays Trinity K. Bonet finally brings justice to a Beyoncé performance on Drag Race. Three failed attempts by earlier queens are redeemed by this spectacular show! Trinity has the presence of Beyoncé and the moves are so right.
Jan is declared the winner. The two queens up for elimination are A’keria again and Yara Sofia again. A’keria pleads her case to the other girls and Yara simply does not have the begging to stay personality. She keeps saying “I am not fake!”, but the other queens take that as a sign of apathy and it seems like almost everyone chooses her.
Jan lip syncs against season 2 queen Jessica Wild. It’s great to see her back on the show and she delivers a stellar lip sync but after last week it pails in comparison. She beats Jan and reveals that the group has chosen Yara Sofia to sashay away. This is a tragic mistake. Yara’s energy and talking heads have been so vital to the fun of this season. She will be deeply missed but hopefully, she can come back with whatever this game within a game situation is on this season of RuPaul's Drag Race.
Source: Paramount Plus